My name is Leo O. Leopold. I am from Firenze, Italy. I am 23 years old 4th oldest in my family. I have one older brother and 1 older sister and 4 younger sisters and 1 younger brother. I lived and worked on a our family owned vineyard(here's a picture of my home).My father died when I was 16 years old. He died from Tuberculosis. Before he died he told my oldest brother Alan to take over the family vineyard and take care of my mama and my brother and sisters and I. Even though he was only 18 at this time he told my papa he would. Times have been hard but he have pulled through. Here's a picture of my family when i was 10. my family
December 8th
We the Italians got involved in World War I because we were allies with Germany and Austria-Hungry. We had a triple alliance. When the war started though we were neutral. Austria-Hungry got in the war because the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - Hungary was killed by a group called the “Black Hand.” This group was from Serbia. People say that we should have gone in the war when Germany and Austria-Hungry did, but we didn't. On April 26th 1915, we came into the war on the side of the Triple Entente with Britain, France and Russia. We had signed a treaty, in this treaty Britain had offered us large sections of territory in the Adriatic Sea region, Tyrol, Dalmatia and Istria.
Big News - June 28, 1914 The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - Hungary and his wife. They were both shot and killed while driving through city of Sarajevo. They were shot by a group most known by the name “the black hand” At this time it didn’t really bother we Italians. We were neutral, even though people said we should have gone in the war when our allies at the time Germany and Austria-Hungry did. We didn’t go in the war until April 26th 1915. When we did go into war were had switched side we were now on the Triple Entente. Britain had gave us an offer we couldn’t resist. So when all this happened with Archduke Franz Ferdinand, it didn’t bother us.
Journal-December 8: Today the trenches were pretty nasty. It's been raining, my feet right now are in about 4 inches of mud. I guess i knew what i was getting into when I enlisted. But it's going to be worth it. I just have to keep reminding myself the real reason I'm here...saying this seems to be helping.
December 15th
3. We are fighting against Germany and Austria-Hungry. Our battle plan is mostly fighting against Austria-Hungry since we aren't really connected to Germany. The Battle of Caporetto, Austria-Hungary combined with Germany forces. They broke through the Italian line along the northern Isonzo, catching the Italian soldiers by surprise. We Italians defeated The Germans and Austrio-Hungarians and won the Battle of Caporetto.
4. The purpose of this propaganda poster was so that US citizens would enlist in the army. It is showing a gorilla with a German helmet on, pretty much saying that Germans are animals and dangerous and that we need to win this war a defeat these monsters. The woman the gorilla is holding might be a mother, a wife, or a daughter to someone. I think what this poster is trying to put yourself in that position that the Germans might hurt the people you love. So they would realize that these Germans have to lose and they need their help.
Journal-December 12: Well today was rough. Nothing really different than any other day but it just hit me that I could die any second. You would think I would have had that already hit me but it didn't until just today. After I saw some men that were in the trench very close to mine all get hit today. That could of been me...a video to get a feel of what im going through right now
5. With Russia’s exit and the USA’s entry into the war this will affect our nation with winning because Russia and the USA were some of our allies. Russia was big but not very modernized which made it more difficult for us to be winning since this World War l and the nations we were fighting against were modernized. The USA coming into the war is giving us a much better opportunity of winning. The USA is well modernized and they are not worn out, they were brand new soldiers that haven’t been in the war for 3 years like Russia and everyone else had been. 1917 is when the USA came into the war. We Italy have a much better chance of winning this war now.
Journal-December 14: Well I have been writing in this a lot more because I don't like to tell the men how I am feeling. They might think I am not a real man. I know some of them are already thinking everything I'm writing down but I'm sure they don't want to hear it from someone else. So i will write down all my thoughts and what has happened today. Well today I think was the closest day i came to dying. I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw my family and friends. every thought you could image ran threw my head in that split second. It makes me cringe to even think about it.
Journal- December 16: My ears are starting to really bother me more than ever. With all the shooting they have been doing, its really getting to me. I don't tell anyone how I'm feeling because i just assume there probably worse and not saying anything.
Journal-December:17: Today was the worst day of the time I have been here...a man i have became really close to died today. I honestly wanted to cry so bad but I held my tears back. I couldn't show the weak side of me. I had to push through today it took a lot but today's almost over. I just want to sleep and not wake up but I know i cant i have to keep going...I can do this.
Week 4 - Jan. 5th
6. The Treaty of Versailles was very good for us Italians. Since we changed sides and we are now on sides with the Triple Entente. The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War I had in ended in 1918. The Germans now have to pay for the destruction they had started. This was very good for us, I’m pleased that we changed allies. We got land, money, and the fighting was finally over. We also got control over Germany.
Journal-December 20: It's 5 day's Christmas but it feels the farthest from it. Normally at this time I would be putting up the Christmas tree with my family. Eating my mama's home cooking, smelling the fire burning.A picture they sent me Looking out the window watching the snow fall to the ground. But I'm here freezing in this trench and all I can do is think about how it used to be. But its even hard to think with all this noise around me...
Journal-December 21: It's so cold look at this picture... winter
Journal-December 25: Well It's Christmas Day. The food is better today, not as good as mama's though. But my mama always to be happy for what I have so I'm satisfied. I haven't been able to write in a while. A lot of the men faces are changing. They all to seem to look very sad, sadder than normal. I think It's because they really are missing their family. We finally got a break though...from all the racket of this war. It was finally kind of peaceful. we all sat around the fire roasting the meat. We laughed and smiled, something I have not been able to do for a while now. I still miss my family though, I keep looking at the picture they sent me. Well I'm going to go enjoy this moment because I know it won't stay like this.
My name is Leo O. Leopold. I am from Firenze, Italy. I am 23 years old 4th oldest in my family. I have one older brother and 1 older sister and 4 younger sisters and 1 younger brother. I lived and worked on a our family owned vineyard(here's a picture of my home).My father died when I was 16 years old. He died from Tuberculosis. Before he died he told my oldest brother Alan to take over the family vineyard and take care of my mama and my brother and sisters and I. Even though he was only 18 at this time he told my papa he would. Times have been hard but he have pulled through. Here's a picture of my family when i was 10. my family
December 8th
We the Italians got involved in World War I because we were allies with Germany and Austria-Hungry. We had a triple alliance. When the war started though we were neutral. Austria-Hungry got in the war because the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - Hungary was killed by a group called the “Black Hand.” This group was from Serbia. People say that we should have gone in the war when Germany and Austria-Hungry did, but we didn't. On April 26th 1915, we came into the war on the side of the Triple Entente with Britain, France and Russia. We had signed a treaty, in this treaty Britain had offered us large sections of territory in the Adriatic Sea region, Tyrol, Dalmatia and Istria.
Big News - June 28, 1914
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - Hungary and his wife. They were both shot and killed while driving through
city of Sarajevo. They were shot by a group most known by the name “the black hand” At this time it didn’t really bother we Italians. We were neutral, even though people said we should have gone in the war when our allies at the time Germany and Austria-Hungry did. We didn’t go in the war until April 26th 1915. When we did go into war were had switched side we were now on the Triple Entente. Britain had gave us an offer we couldn’t resist. So when all this happened with Archduke Franz Ferdinand, it didn’t bother us.
Journal-December 8: Today the trenches were pretty nasty. It's been raining, my feet right now are in about 4 inches of mud. I guess i knew what i was getting into when I enlisted. But it's going to be worth it. I just have to keep reminding myself the real reason I'm here...saying this seems to be helping.
December 15th
3. We are fighting against Germany and Austria-Hungry. Our battle plan is mostly fighting against Austria-Hungry since we aren't really connected to Germany. The Battle of Caporetto, Austria-Hungary combined with Germany forces. They broke through the Italian line along the northern Isonzo, catching the Italian soldiers by surprise. We Italians defeated The Germans and Austrio-Hungarians and won the Battle of Caporetto.
4. The purpose of this propaganda poster was so that US citizens would enlist in the army. It is showing a gorilla with a German helmet on, pretty much saying that Germans are animals and dangerous and that we need to win this war a defeat these monsters. The woman the gorilla is holding might be a mother, a wife, or a daughter to someone. I think what this poster is trying to put yourself in that position that the Germans might hurt the people you love. So they would realize that these Germans have to lose and they need their help.
Journal-December 12: Well today was rough. Nothing really different than any other day but it just hit me that I could die any second. You would think I would have had that already hit me but it didn't until just today. After I saw some men that were in the trench very close to mine all get hit today. That could of been me...a video to get a feel of what im going through right now
5. With Russia’s exit and the USA’s entry into the war this will affect our nation with winning because Russia and the USA were some of our allies. Russia was big but not very modernized which made it more difficult for us to be winning since this World War l and the nations we were fighting against were modernized. The USA coming into the war is giving us a much better opportunity of winning. The USA is well modernized and they are not worn out, they were brand new soldiers that haven’t been in the war for 3 years like Russia and everyone else had been. 1917 is when the USA came into the war. We Italy have a much better chance of winning this war now.
Journal-December 14: Well I have been writing in this a lot more because I don't like to tell the men how I am feeling. They might think I am not a real man. I know some of them are already thinking everything I'm writing down but I'm sure they don't want to hear it from someone else. So i will write down all my thoughts and what has happened today. Well today I think was the closest day i came to dying. I saw my life flash before my eyes. I saw my family and friends. every thought you could image ran threw my head in that split second. It makes me cringe to even think about it.
Journal- December 16: My ears are starting to really bother me more than ever. With all the shooting they have been doing, its really getting to me. I don't tell anyone how I'm feeling because i just assume there probably worse and not saying anything.
Journal-December:17: Today was the worst day of the time I have been here...a man i have became really close to died today. I honestly wanted to cry so bad but I held my tears back. I couldn't show the weak side of me. I had to push through today it took a lot but today's almost over. I just want to sleep and not wake up but I know i cant i have to keep going...I can do this.
Week 4 - Jan. 5th
6. The Treaty of Versailles was very good for us Italians. Since we changed sides and we are now on sides with the Triple Entente. The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War I had in ended in 1918. The Germans now have to pay for the destruction they had started. This was very good for us, I’m pleased that we changed allies. We got land, money, and the fighting was finally over. We also got control over Germany.
Journal-December 20: It's 5 day's Christmas but it feels the farthest from it. Normally at this time I would be putting up the Christmas tree with my family. Eating my mama's home cooking, smelling the fire burning.A picture they sent me Looking out the window watching the snow fall to the ground. But I'm here freezing in this trench and all I can do is think about how it used to be. But its even hard to think with all this noise around me...
Journal-December 21: It's so cold look at this picture... winter
Journal-December 25: Well It's Christmas Day. The food is better today, not as good as mama's though. But my mama always to be happy for what I have so I'm satisfied. I haven't been able to write in a while. A lot of the men faces are changing. They all to seem to look very sad, sadder than normal. I think It's because they really are missing their family. We finally got a break though...from all the racket of this war. It was finally kind of peaceful. we all sat around the fire roasting the meat. We laughed and smiled, something I have not been able to do for a while now. I still miss my family though, I keep looking at the picture they sent me. Well I'm going to go enjoy this moment because I know it won't stay like this.